LAWYER ARRESTED OVER PUBLIC REMARKS

On May 11, 2024, security forces, masked and in civilian clothing stormed the Bar Association offices in Tunis to arrest lawyer and media personality, Sonia Dahmani. On May 13, an investigative judge in the Tunis Court of First Instance ordered her detention pending investigation over critical remarks she made on a TV show. She is accused of spreading false information under Article 24 of draconian cybercrimes Decree-Law 54 which carries a five-year prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 dinars (around 16,000 USD). Sonia Dahmani is currently arbitrarily detained in the Manouba prison in Tunis and her next hearing with judicial authorities is scheduled for May 20. We call on the Tunisian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Sonia Dahmani as she is detained solely for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression and drop the baseless criminal investigation against her.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: July 11, 2024

take action:

• Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
• Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 43.24. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

contact information:

sample letter:

Your Excellency, or Dear Ambassador,

I am gravely concerned over the arbitrary arrest and detention of Tunisian lawyer, Sonia Dahmani. Her arrest contravenes International Human Rights Law, including Articles 6 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Articles 9 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Tunisia is a state party. 

I urge you to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Sonia Dahmani and that the baseless criminal investigation against her is dropped. Moreover, I call on you and your government to cease the targeted arrests of critics for the peaceful exercise of their human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. 

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

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